ICPC Arraigns Former Accountant-General, Ex-Aides of El-Rufai Over Corruption Charges

The ICPC has taken the former Accountant-General and ex-aides of Nasir El-Rufai to court over alleged corruption, intensifying Nigeria’s anti-graft campaign.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed its intention to prosecute the former Accountant-General of Kaduna State, along with two aides of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and a company, in connection with an alleged ₦64 million fraud.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by ICPC spokesperson Mr. Demola Bakare, it was announced that the accused will be charged at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Friday.

The individuals accused are Mr. Lawal Adebisi, a former Senior Special Adviser; Mr. Umar Waziri, the previous Accountant General of Kaduna State; and Mr. Yusuf Inuwa, a past Commissioner for Finance in the state. The company implicated is Solar Life Nigeria Limited, whose bank account was allegedly used in the transaction.

According to Bakare, the ICPC claims that Mr. Lawal collaborated with two other defendants to misappropriate a total of ₦64.8 million through three transactions: ₦10 million, ₦47.84 million, and ₦7.32 million into an account belonging to Solar Life Nigeria Limited, for which Mr. Lawal is reportedly the sole signatory.

The four defendants are anticipated to appear in court to respond to the charges.

In a related event, the ICPC brought charges last week against Alhaji Muhammad Sa’idu, who previously served as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance in Kaduna State, concerning a distinct money laundering accusation.

The commission accused Sa’idu of accepting ₦155 million in cash from a public official within the state’s Ministry of Finance.